Customer Reviews

Liszt: Favourite Piano Works

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an excellent representative 2-CD bargin set of Liszt's piano works played by a recognized expert pianist in this repertoire. The other reviewers (i.e. those w/ 5* ratings) have made their points well. What continues to bother me in many of these classical CD reviews is 'downgrading' a CD by several stars, if not more in some cases, because the listener is irked at the lack of a feature that has nothing to do w/ the performance on the recording. Such is the case here - a 3* rating because one piece was mislabelled is ridiculous - rate the music & performance first, please. If there is a problem unrelated to the performance (sound quality, liner notes, etc.), then simply state that in your review. I often look at the overall rating to determine if I even want to consider a classical CD & read the reviews - knocking off a star or two because of petty complaints is not justified.

There are many Liszt performers, and while Bolet was known to never substitute technical perfection for feeling, there is a great balance to his playing. 'Un Sospiro' is played on the slow side, every melody note can be heard perfectly, while his interpretation and rubato are heart stopping. While I don't agree with his Liebstraum (the honor of greatest playing is held for Cliburn on this piece, if you haven't heard him play it, go buy the CD, now), the lesser played works such as the Elf King transcription more than makes up for it. If you want a technically perfect, clear, sometimes very moving performance of Liszt, Bolet is for you (I prefer him infinitely over Cziffra, although I may be alone on that one). Postscript: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 is NOT No. 2, this is an error on Amazon's part, and also on the other Bolet albums, it is indeed no. 12 and not 2.

There's something magical in the lyricism and transparent viruosity of Bolet's playing that I don't hear in any other Lizst interpreter. His recording of the Sonata ranks with the best - and is without question my personal favorite. Now if I could only find his complete recordings of the Annees de pelerinage....

Bolet's finest moments on this two-fer are the Schubert-Liszt transcriptions - you'd almost think 'Who needs a voice?' But he's equally good in the aforementioned Mephisto Waltz, and the operatic journey through Mozart's Don Giovanni.

The cons are here too: Bolet's RCA Liszt recital has better, less cautious versions of Liebestraum, Un sospiro and Funerailles. The Sonata is tremendous overall but in the end I'd rank it just a little below the best - particularly Brendel, Richter and Arrau. Yet all these renditions have great merits - even the ones Bolet surpassed himself. This Liszt compilation is overall very good.

I bought this CD about a year ago after reading some of the many positive reviews on this site, and I couldn't agree more. On one piece after another Bolet displays, to my ears, perfect interpretations of piano works ranging from quiet and soulful to loud and boisterous -- magnificent melodies magnificently played. This CD immediately became a big favorite at our house and remains so today. Highly recommended.

These two CD's are spectacular!
Jorge Bolet plays magnificently. The Liebestraum is played elegantly and full of emotion. The Mephisto Waltz is breath-taking. The Hungarian Rhapsody no.12 is truely great. The Sonata in B minor is outstanding, truely a great interpitation of the piece. Only Liszt may have played it better. The recording is qualitative, and clear.

A great 2-CD package. Great choice of works, great playing. I'd like to hear more of Bolet's Liszt playing, that's for sure. Also, probably the best recording of the great "Sonata in B minor" ever.

This is an absolutely beautiful CD by piano virtuoso Jorge Bolet. The playing is fluid, crisp and feels as if you were in a live performance. The 2nd disc has a selection of glorious pieces that will capture your soul!

After reading a lot of good reviews on this product, I got it for my mom. She is a fabulous pianist and wanted something of quality. She was very happy with the music.

Excelente compilación de obras para piano de Liszt. La ejecución de las mismas por parte de Jorge Bolet impecable, dos discos compactos (CD) para disfrutar de los sonidos fantásticos propios de las obras de Liszt.
La ejecución de las mismas por parte de Jorge Bolet es impecable y la grabación del disco es muy buena.